Marlene Castle is one of New Zealand’s most respected bowlers with a career that spans decades and includes multiple World Bowls, Commonwealth and Asia‑Pacific medals, plus a World Indoor Singles. She made her international debut in 1989 while in only her sixth season and was a mainstay of the New Zealand Blackjacks team until 2003.
At the 1990 Commonwealth Games, Marlene showed that her prowess as a lead was compelling and she secured a silver medal in the fours skipped by Rhoda Ryan, alongside Adrienne Lambert and Lynette McLean, narrowly beaten 20-18 by Australia’s Audrey Rutherford, Daphne Shaw, Marion Stevens and Hall of Famer Dorothy Roche.
A former golfer who transitioned to bowls, ‘Marls’ combined technical skill with a commitment to coaching and administration, and regularly encouraged younger players, many of whom went on to higher honours for New Zealand.
Marlene evolved her game to be a leading singles player winning numerous titles, including successive Asia-Pacific Singles championships in 1999 and 2001, beating Carmen Anderson from Norfolk Island in the final on both occasions.
Perhaps her finest achievement came when beating fellow Hall of Famer Margaret Johnston MBE on her home Northern Ireland indoor green to win the World Indoor Bowls Council Indoor Singles. Her steely determination and unwavering composure was her strength on green. This earned Marlene a finalist place in the New Zealand Halberg Sportswoman of the Year in 2000 up against Olympic gold medallists.
At the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, it was a bronze medal for Castle against old rival and Hall of Famer Siti Zalina Ahmad, having beaten Margaret Johnston in the quarter-finals.
Marlene was instrumental in the establishment of a branch of the PBA in New Zealand in the early 2000s creating opportunities for Kiwi players to qualify for World Bowls Tour events. The branch has grown into the largest branch outside of the United Kingdom.
Her family has an incredible sporting legacy — including daughter Raelene Castle’s prominence in sports administration in New Zealand, Australia, and internationally (and as a New Zealand mixed pairs champion with Mike Kernaghan, 2026 Commonwealth Games head coach), and ex-husband Bruce Castle was captain of the New Zealand rugby league team and played professionally in Australia. Her son Ryan is also an accomplished sports person and successful businessman.
This underscores Marlene’s broader contribution to New Zealand sport, as a role model for other women and her recognition as a leading achiever of Maori ethnicity.
Marlene later served as a Bowls New Zealand national selector and mentor to emerging players and is a member of the Bowls New Zealand Hall of Fame.
Commonwealth Games
1990 (Fours Silver), 1994 (Fours Bronze), 2002 (Singles Bronze)
World Bowls
1992 (Triples Silver), 1992 (Fours Silver), 2004 (Triples Bronze)
Asia/Pacific
1989 (Fours Gold), 1995 (Triples Gold), (Fours Gold),1999 (Singles Gold), 2001 (Singles Gold)
WIBC/IIBC Women’s World Indoor Singles
2000 (gold)
